• Stay away from Kansas City Chiefs, Buffalo Bills, Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Rams, and Houston Texans starters in Week 18: With their playoff seeding locked up, or all however locked up, these 5 groups will possible be resting their key starters in Week 18. The Los Angeles Chargers can be added to this listing if the Pittsburgh Steelers win on Saturday evening.
• Minnesota Vikings QB Sam Darnold and WR Jordan Addison are the QB-WR stack to focus on in DFS lineups: If the Minnesota Vikings need to earn the No. 1 seed within the NFC playoffs, they might want to sustain with the Detroit Lions’ high-powered offense. The excellent news is that must be a simple activity in opposition to an injury-riddled protection that can’t cease anyone as of late.
• Dominate your fantasy draft: Subscribe to PFF+ to get full entry to PFF’s suite of fantasy soccer instruments, together with the fantasy mock draft simulator, dwell draft assistant, fantasy draft rankings, cheat sheets and extra! Click right here to subscribe!
Estimated Reading Time: 10 minutes
With so many groups resting starters for the playoffs, chances are you’ll be struggling to set your Week 18 DFS lineups. Hopefully, I may also help! Below yow will discover my prime hearth (growth), sleeper (dangerous however excessive upside) and ice (bust) gamers at every place for Week 18.
Don’t miss my Fire & Ice chart on the backside of this web page. There, I’ve listed out all of my hearth, good, sleeper and ice performs for Week 18 of the 2024 fantasy soccer season.
Quarterbacks
Fire QB Start of the Week: Sam Darnold (at DET)
FanDuel Cost: $8,100 – seventh amongst QBs
The Detroit Lions–Minnesota Vikings showdown on Sunday evening must be the highest-scoring sport of the weekend as the 2 groups battle for the NFC North division title and the No. 1 seed within the NFC. Of course, Jared Goff is a superb fantasy play. Still, I feel Sam Darnold will put up the larger fantasy efficiency among the many two … Simply as a result of the Vikings’ protection is far scarier than the Lions’ decimated protection.
Since Week 13, the Lions have allowed Josh Allen (41.3), Brock Purdy (30.3) and Caleb Williams (26.1 an 22.8) to all have huge video games in opposition to them.
Sleeper QB of the Week: Russell Wilson (vs. CIN)
FanDuel Cost: $7,300 – seventeenth amongst QBs
It has been a brutal stretch for Russell Wilson and the Pittsburgh Steelers offense, however issues ought to get again on monitor this Saturday evening in opposition to a leaky Cincinnati Bengals protection. No protection has allowed extra factors per sport (34.9) or yards per play (6.5) after they confronted an opponent that has a profitable report in 2024 than the Bengals.
The Bengals have confronted eight groups with a profitable report this season — the opposing beginning quarterback in every of these seven video games scored a minimum of 22 fantasy factors. Five of the final seven such quarterbacks scored a minimum of 26 fantasy factors, together with Russell Wilson who scored a season-high 26.9 factors in Week 13 in Cincinnati.
Ice QB Start of the Week: Justin Herbert (at LV)
FanDuel Cost: $7,700 – tenth amongst QBs
Justin Herbert has scored fewer than 15 factors in over 50% of his video games performed in 2024 (9 of 16 video games), together with his 10.4-point efficiency in opposition to the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 1. Despite being knocked out of the playoffs, the Raiders protection remains to be enjoying robust and so they haven’t allowed an opposing quarterback to hit 20 fantasy factors in any of their final six video games.
Plus, if the Steelers win on Saturday evening, there shall be no motive for the Los Angeles Chargers to play their key starters a lot on this sport as they are going to be locked into the No. 6 seed regardless of in the event that they win or lose.
Running Backs
Fire RB Start of the Week: Bucky Irving (vs. NO)
FanDuel Cost: $7,900 – tenth amongst RBs
In the 5 video games that Bucky Irving has performed a minimum of 50% of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ snaps, he has averaged 23 fantasy factors. Four of these 5 video games have come since Week 12 with the crew beginning to lean on and belief their rookie increasingly more because the season progressed. The New Orleans Saints’ run protection has struggled as of late — they even let Ameer Abdullah achieve 115 rush yards and 147 scrimmage yards in opposition to them final week.
Sleeper RB of the Week: Jaylen Warren (vs. CIN)
FanDuel Cost: $5,800 – thirty eighth amongst RBs
Najee Harris, not Jaylen Warren, had a monster fantasy day in opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 13 … however issues have shifted within the Pittsburgh Steelers backfield since that sport. Warren has effectively out-snapped Harris over the past month (56.4% to 37.9%), and he has proven to be the way more explosive again in Arthur Smith’s offense.
Warren has scored 14-plus fantasy factors in back-to-back weeks and put up season-highs 71 rush yards and 112 scrimmage yards final weekend in opposition to the Kansas City Chiefs‘ robust protection. The Bengals have been permitting plenty of receptions to operating backs as of late, whereas Warren has had a minimum of 4 targets in six of the final seven video games, with 5 receptions in every of the final two weeks.
Ice RB Start of the Week: De’Von Achane (at NYJ)
FanDuel Cost: $8,000 – ninth amongst RBs
With Tua Tagovailoa nonetheless making an attempt to recuperate from a hip harm, the Miami Dolphins are prepping for QB Tyler Huntley to begin of their must-win Week 18 sport. In the 5 video games that Tagovailoa has missed in 2024, De’Vone Achane has scored simply 9, 6, 3, 10 and 6 fantasy factors.
Achane has been thriving on a heavy goal quantity with Tagovailoa, however Huntley focused Achane simply twice in Week 17. The New York Jets allowed Achane to place up simply 24 yards on 14 carries of their Week 14 matchup, and his 5 receptions saved him from having a horrible fantasy day.
Wide Receivers
Fire WR Start of the Week: Jordan Addison (at DET)
FanDuel Cost: $7,100 – twentieth amongst WRs
I would like every bit of this sport that I can get. Justin Jefferson and Amon-Ra St. Brown shall be extremely coveted fantasy choices this week, however Jordan Addison may be the very best worth on this matchup. Addison has been extremely concerned within the Minnesota Vikings’ offense. with a minimum of eight targets in every of the final 4 video games. No participant has extra receiving touchdowns (seven) than Addison since Week 11.
The Lions have allowed essentially the most receiving yards and second-most fantasy factors to the vast receiver place in 2024. There shall be loads of factors to go round for each Jefferson and Addison in Week 18.
Sleeper WR Start of the Week: Alec Pierce (vs. JAX)
FanDuel Cost: $5,800 – 52nd amongst WRs
Anthony Richardson has formally been dominated out, so Joe Flacco will begin once more for the Indianapolis Colts in Week 18. Alec Pierce has scored 18-plus fantasy factors in three of the 5 video games that Flacco began this season, together with an 18.1 and 24.2 fantasy efficiency in his final two begins.
Flacco began within the Colts’ first season matchup in opposition to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 5, and he hit Piece for 134 receiving yards and a landing in that sport.
Ice WR Start of the Week: DK Metcalf (at LAR)
FanDuel Cost: $7,200 – nineteenth amongst WRs
Shockingly, DK Metcalf’s consensus rank and DFS value proceed to place him as a top-20 possibility, regardless of him not ending as a top-20 producer on the vast receiver place since Week 7. He has been almost unplayable these days whereas ending because the WR35 or worse in fantasy factors in 5 of the final six weeks. Metcalf has simply three receptions in every of the final three video games and has not hit 70 receiving yards in a sport since Week 11.
Tight Ends
Fire TE Start of the Week: Pat Freiermuth (vs. CIN)
FanDuel Cost: $5,500 – twelfth amongst TEs
Freiermuth has been a strong fantasy producer, scoring a minimum of 11 fantasy factors in 4 of the final 5 weeks. He led the Pittsburgh Steelers with seven receptions and 60 yards on Christmas Day in a good matchup in opposition to the Kansas City Chiefs and now, he will get one other nice matchup in opposition to the Cincinnati Bengals.
The Bengals have allowed essentially the most fantasy factors and second-most touchdowns to tight ends this season. Freiermuth put up a season-high 18.8 factors in his Week 13 matchup in opposition to the Bengals.
Sleeper TE of the Week: Kyle Pitts (vs. CAR)
FanDuel Cost: $5,300 – 18th amongst TEs
Finally, Kyle Pitts did one thing, something, final weekend. Pitts scored 14.4 fantasy factors in Week 17, after scoring simply 24 factors from Weeks 9-16 mixed (7 video games). It is certainly a threat to begin Pitts however he has a unbelievable matchup this Sunday and must be in good spirits after catching the game-tying landing that introduced the Atlanta Falcons to additional time in opposition to the Washington Commanders final week.
The Carolina Panthers have allowed essentially the most receiving touchdowns and second-most fantasy factors to tight ends this yr. Pitts had 70 receiving yards in opposition to them in Week 6 – considered one of simply three video games this season that he has hit 60 receiving yards.
Ice TE Start of the Week: Jonnu Smith (at NYJ )
FanDuel Cost: $6,300 – sixth amongst TEs
Jonnu Smith saved his fantasy day with a landing in Week 17 with Tyler Huntley beneath heart … however he noticed simply 4 targets all sport lengthy, resulting in solely three receptions for 26 yards. Plus, the New York Jets will not be a good matchup for tight ends. Due to his massive additional time efficiency, Smith got here via with a very good sport in opposition to the Jets in Week 14, however he had zero fantasy factors in regulation. His value will not be well worth the threat if Tua Tagovailoa is sidelined.
Fire & Ice Fantasy Football Plays
Here, I categorize each related fantasy participant into 5 completely different buckets: (1) hearth begins (finest begins of the week); (2) thumbs up (good begins); (3) Risky gamers with upside (sleepers); (4) Ice begins (predicting unhealthy efficiency from good participant); (5) Stop (should sits).
Note: If a participant/protection will not be listed, I both anticipate them to not play in Week 18 or am not contemplating beginning them in fantasy lineups.
Fire 🔥
- QB: Lamar Jackson, Jayden Daniels, Joe Burrow, Sam Darnold, Jared Goff
- RB: Bijan Robinson, Jahmyr Gibbs, Derrick Henry, Bucky Irving, Jonathan Taylor, Josh Jacobs
- WR: Ja’Marr Chase, Justin Jefferson, Amon-Ra St. Brown, Mike Evans, Brian Thomas Jr., Jordan Addison, Tee Higgins (if he performs)
- TE: Brock Bowers, Trey McBride, Sam LaPorta, George Kittle, Pat Freiermuth, Mark Andrews
- DEF: Ravens, Buccaneers, Chargers, Packers
Thumbs Up 👍
- QB: Baker Mayfield, Bo Nix, Russell Wilson
- RB: Zach Charbonnet, Aaron Jones, Chase Brown (if he performs), Jaylen Warren, J.Okay. Dobbins, Blake Corum, Kenneth Gainwell, Ray Davis
- WR: Malik Nabers, Terry McLaurin, Drake London, Jaxon Smith-Njigba, George Pickens, Jameson Williams, Ladd McConkey, Davante Adams, Adam Thielen, Jerry Jeudy, Keenan Allen
- TE: T.J. Hockenson, Tucker Kraft, Zach Ertz
- DEF: Broncos, Eagles, Falcons, Dolphins, Seahawks
Upside 📈
- QB: Jordan Love, Joshua Dobbs, Joe Flacco, Michael Penix Jr.
- RB: Najee Harris, Brian Robinson Jr., Tyrone Tracy Jr., Rico Dowdle, Isaac Guerendo, Ray Davis, Ameer Abdullah, Michael Carter, Kimani Vidal
- WR: Courtland Sutton, Jauan Jennings, Garrett Wilson, Jalen McMillan, Deebo Samuel, Jakobi Meyers, DJ Moore, Alec Pierce, Josh Downs, Romeo Doubs, Calvin Ridley, Zay Flowers, Nico Collins, Olamide Zaccheaus, Michael Pittman Jr.
- TE: Kyle Pitts, Mike Gesicki, Noah Gray
- DEF: Bills, Colts, Titans, Texans, Jets, Giants
Ice 🥶
- QB: Kyler Murray, Justin Herbert, Geno Smith, Aaron Rodgers, Bryce Young
- RB: Breece Hall, D’Andre Swift, De’Von Achane, Joe Mixon, Rachaad White, Rhamondre Stevenson
- WR: Tyreek Hill, DK Metcalf, Marvin Harrison Jr., Darnell Mooney
- TE: Jonnu Smith, Chig Okonkwo, Tyler Conklin
- DEF: Rams, Chiefs, Bengals
Stop 🚫
- QB: Caleb Williams, C.J. Stroud, Drew Lock, Drake Maye, Carson Wentz
- RB: Broncos RBs, Jaguars RBs, Raheem Blackshear, D’Onta Foreman
- WR: Wan’Dale Robinson, Jayden Reed, Quentin Johnston, Marvin Mims Jr.,
- TE: Jake Ferguson, Hunter Henry, Dalton Schultz
- DEF: Lions, Vikings, Steelers